Lyme disease is generally considered to be easily treatable in the early stages of infection. An oral antibiotic (cefuroxime, doxycycline, and others) taken for 4 weeks is usually prescribed. This will usually clear up the infection. If the disease has been allowed to progress beyond the early stages then it becomes much harder to treat. Often a high dose of oral antibiotics will be administered for a long period of time. The time needed for the antibiotics varies with individual reactions to treatment. The doctor should use the reaction as a guideline for continuing treatment or trying a different treatment option.
If oral antibiotics are having no effect then a more aggressive treatment of intravenous antibiotics may be administered. In cases where patients cannot tolerate oral or intravenous antibiotics, intramuscular antibiotics can be used.
Knowing when to stop treatment in chronic Lyme patients is difficult for doctors as there is no current test to determine whether the bacteria has been eradicated from the patients body.
Early diagnosis is the key in treating this disease effectively. If you suspect that a tick has bitten you, seek medical advice as soon as possible.
Note: during treatment lyme patients may experience a worsening of symptoms due to a herxheimer reaction which can be very disabling.
For more information on treatment guidelines see Dr. Burrascanos Guide or our Resources page. Dr. Joseph J. Burrascano has been treating Lyme patients for 30 years and is regarded as the leading expert on Lyme Disease in the U.S.
Optimal nutrition is essential for helping the body to recover from Lyme disease. Eating a good well balanced diet can decrease symptoms of Lyme disease and can also help aid various therapies that you are undertaking to work more effectively. By making some very simple changes to your diet you can help reduce chronic inflammation, improve gut health, boost energy, improve your cognitive function and support detoxification.
4 easy steps to improve your diet to help in your recovery from Lyme disease:
Step1 – Elimination
If you are experiencing significant gut issues it is recommended that you start by eliminating the foods that may be contributing to your issues. One of the most important parts in Lyme recovery is eliminating sugar from your diet as sugar not only feeds yeasts it also supports the growth of the spirochete bacteria that is Lyme disease,
Gluten which may cause symptoms which can overlap with those symptoms of Lyme disease and are signs of excess inflammation. Symptoms such as muscle and joint pain, headaches, chronic fatigue, skin rashes, abdominal pain, bloating and gas.
As dairy is a pro-inflammatory food it is also recommend to be eliminated from your diet.
Step 2 – Introduce anti-inflammatory foods
By Introducing a diet rich in whole foods which should include, Good sources (organic if feasible) cuts of meat, chicken and fish. You want your diet to be rich in array vegetables (think of the rainbow) aim for five portions per day and two portions of fruit preferably berries for there antioxidant properties and Healthy oils, nuts and seeds as they contain omega’3’s which will help in the fight to combat inflammation.
Step 3 – Support the good gut bacteria.
It is important through out Lyme disease treatment that we support our gut bacteria. Restoring all the beneficial bacteria to a healthy balance is critical in aiding the recovery from Lyme. This can be achieved by including homemade chicken and beef bone broths which contain healing compounds like collagen, proline, glycine and glutamine and foods that are rich in probiotics, live natural yogurt, homemade milk kefir and if tolerated fermented foods sauerkraut, tempeh and kombucha.
Step 4 – Hydration
Staying well hydrated is essential lack of hydration suppresses the effectiveness of our body’s ability to aid in the removal of toxins. There are many warning signs that you may be dehydrated, dry mouth, decreased urination, headaches, digestive issues, fatigue, dizziness, muscle cramps and weakness. Aim to drink at least 1 litre of water daily. Start the day with water and lemon as this helps to detox the liver and to active the digestive system. Stay away from fizzy drinks and flavoured waters because of the sugar contents.
See food trafic light system here.
Fermented foods such as sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir and apple cider vinegar (with the mother) are also fantastic to add to your diet as they help build good bacteria in your gut. As 70% of your immune system is in your gut this can be extremely beneficial to overall wellbeing.
As there isn’t enough awareness of chronic Lyme disease it can feel isolating as a patient, not to mention the cognitive symptoms that can occur due to the illness itself. This experience can be extremely overwhelming and taxing on ones mental Health.
Remember you are not alone. Please read former chronic Lyme sufferer, Suzanne Keenan’s story which sheds light on the extra challenges Lyme patients suffer due to lack of awareness.
Below are links to mental heath support groups should you need some wellbeing resources or someone to talk to:
Let us make the position on Ticktalk very clear here,
If you go for
1. Gp/consultant
2. Herbalist treatment
3. Biomagnetic Therapy
4. Kinesiology
5. Craniosacral
6. Bio Energetic Therapy
7. Any other of the vast therapies that are available
The responsibility lies with you to do your homework, if you are a carer for a patient the responsibility lies with you to investigate the Therapist / Dr. / Consultant that you are attending.
Somethings to consider
1. What is their experience with Lyme?
2. How many years treating
3. Will they work alongside my current treatment ie Herbal or antibiotic treatment?
4. How many sessions will I need?
5. What is the success rate
6. What are the risks?
7. What feedback have you on this person
If you are going the alternative route your therapist should NEVER TELL YOU STOP YOUR ANTIBIOTICS, if they do report them to the organisation they are associated with or leave!
Why not get someone to try a session themselves before committing to a series of sessions, see if it sits well for you and how the treatment is done.
If you decide to train in any Alternate Therapies that are available that is your responsibility we do not ask anyone to train/sign up in the name of TICKTALK.
If you are to sign up and then feel that that therapy is not for you that is between you and the course director not us.
Again I would say go for a session before you sign up to becoming a therapist know what is involved.
Ticktalk are an awareness group and also volunteers, we are not affiliated to any therapist/therapy/consultant or Dr , we certainly do not get any monetary value for anyone for recommendations based on our own experience.
Please Please Please do your own homework whatever road that you go down. It is important to check for associations for credibility and accountability.
Lyme is not one size fits all, what works for one does not work for another, it does not mean that, the treatment is rubbish or the person giving it, it means it just was not the right one for you. Know who you are being treated by, look for recommendations but at the end of the day it depends on what fits for you
Acupuncture is a therapeutic practice that originated in China thousands of years ago. In western medicine, the goal is often to diagnose disease and treat it specifically; in acupuncture, the goal is to strengthen the entire mind and body, supporting our inherent resilience and resistance to disease.
According to traditional Chinese philosophy, our health is dependent on the body’s motivating energy (Qi, pronounced ‘chee’) moving in a smooth and balanced way through a series of channels (meridians) beneath the skin that connect the interior and exterior of the body, and the internal systems to each other.
Qi consists of equal and opposite qualities – Yin and Yang. When Qi becomes blocked or disrupted, illness can result. Acupuncture aims to bring all systems into balance by inserting fine needles into the meridians. It can also be used to complement conventional medicine.
Additional information can be found here.
In short, Biomagnetic Pair Therapy facilitates your body in eliminating infections by creating the correct internal environment for your immune system to work at an optimal level, encourages your body to detox efficiently, promotes healing and regeneration and helps regulate the functions of your body necessary for healing, recovery and maintaining health and wellbeing. Learn more here.
Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is a light-touch hands-on therapy that enhances the body’s natural capacity for healing. For 30 years CST has been shown to be effective in treating a wide range of physiological issues associated with pain and loss of biomechanical, systemic and emotional function/wellbeing. CST is useful both as a primary treatment method and in combination with other traditional (physiotherapy) or complementary (massage) therapeutic techniques.
The Craniosacral Therapy practitioner essentially encourages the body to release restrictions that it has been unable to overcome on its own. Rather than deciding how these changes should be made, the therapist follows the body’s response as to how to proceed. Following this gentle approach helps ensure the method is safe and effective.
Additional information here.
Kinesiology The study of muscular movement, especially the mechanics of human motion.
REIKI is alleged to aid relaxation, assist in the body’s natural healing processes, and develop emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being. It is also said to induce deep relaxation, help people cope with difficulties, relieve emotional stress, and improve overall wellbeing.
Reiki refers to universal life force energy, which surrounds us all but can become depleted, allowing physical and emotional symptoms to develop. Having a treatment with a qualified therapist allows you to absorb more life force energy; removing blockages and revitalising the body.
It is a natural, safe and simple healing method which harnesses natural energies in a concentrated form through the hands of the practitioner. It induces a state of deep relaxation, calming the mind, allowing the body essential time to repair and heal and leaves the client feeling rejuvenated and energised. Learn more here.
SOT (Supportive Oligonucleotide Therapy) turns off the replication cycle of bacteria responsible for Lyme disease and its co-infections, viruses, parasites and cancer cells. In other words, SOT is a therapy in which bacteria, viruses, parasites and cancer cells are subjected to reverse engineering using micro RNA (also known as oligonucleotide) in order to block their genes and stop their multiplication. Consequently, this therapy eliminates the next lifecycle. This process is called gene silencing therapy or apoptosis inducing therapy. Learn more here.
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